Why Trey Lance may be the best chance to save Mike McCarthy’s job beyond 2024.
With the Dallas Cowboys season hanging on by a thread, Mike McCarty faces a crucial decision: Stick with the safe option or take a more bold gamble on a player with some unknown potential.
With Dak Prescott likely out six to eight weeks with a partially torn hamstring, the Cowboys intend to start Cooper Rush at quarterback when the team takes on the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles this sunday.
For what it’s worth, Cooper Rush is the definition of a second string quarterback. Having spent his entire career with the Cowboys, by either way of the practice squad or being on the active roster, he certainly has shown us all what he is as a football player.
Rush last started a regular season game in 2022 when he went 4-1 in the absence of Dak Prescott who was out with a broken thumb.
If you’re Head Coach Mike McCarthy, he must recognize the fact that he’s basically coaching for his future in Dallas. With no extension in place, he must be aware the seat is more than a little warm.
So, if you’re Mike McCarthy, why not go with Trey Lance, a “diamond in the dust” perhaps, and see if he can run the offense a little more like the way Dak Prescott would. Why not give him a three or four game window to see if he has what it takes to be a backup quarterback or even a starting quarterback down the line.
When it comes to Cooper Rush, you know what you’re going to get. Consistent and safe, might win a couple of games since the outlook is mildly treacherous. Games against the Eagles, Texans, Commanders, Giants, and Bengals over the next five weeks. Although it’s not crazy to think they could win one or two, it is hard to imagine a scenario where they win any more than one of those games.
If he were to go with Lance on the other hand, perhaps Mike McCarthy looks like a bit of a genius should Lance play well. He would look like he was willing to take a chance and maybe even display he’s capable of coaching Trey Lance into something that Kyle Shanahan could not. Putting on full display that he is able to work with and develop a young quarterback, in the event he needs to float his resume out there this offseason. In what little football we have seen of Trey Lance, he has shown some ability to extend plays with his legs, potentially opening up more receiving possibilities for Ceedee Lamb and company. In 2021 and 2022 with the 49ers, Lance averaged 4.2 and 4.4 yards per carry respectively.
Although I am of the belief that Coach McCarthy’s seat is hot, I still think he could salvage his job and earn that extension at the end of the season. If Dallas should be able to string together four or five more wins, who knows what could happen. It’s definitely a stretch considering Dak Prescott is likely to miss six to eight weeks with his partially torn hamstring.
The potential and the unknown of Trey Lance could be the spark Mike McCarthy needs to keep him looking like he’s in control of the team and best suited to coach the Cowboys beyond this season.